the jury roomhttp://thejuryroom.org
candid discussion about social & criminal justiceThu, 10 May 2018 23:09:21 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8http://thejuryroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/scales-of-justice-150x150.jpgthe jury roomhttp://thejuryroom.org
3232“guilty of being innocent” by isaiah givenshttp://thejuryroom.org/2018/05/guilty-of-being-innocent-by-isaiah-givens/
http://thejuryroom.org/2018/05/guilty-of-being-innocent-by-isaiah-givens/#respondThu, 10 May 2018 23:09:21 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=322isaiah givens has been fighting for his freedom since his 1982 arrest for a double homicide in philadelphia.

isaiah took the time to type this document on a typewriter from his prison facility. it is a thorough exploration into his case, and all of the misconduct that led to his wrongful conviction.

this document could save isaiah’s life. please take the time to read and share.

i think we calculated 163 total years of incarceration at this table! exonerees anthony wright and anthony dipippo, innocent death row survivor jimmy dennis, and returning citizens giovanni reid, john pace, and sharif boyd.

chester hollman, III drew this incredible portrait of my graduation day for me!

supporters of terry williams outside the courtroom after his resentencing hearing

eddie & his buddy yaya collaborated on this piece as a christmas gift for me!

g and i at an event for chris rabb

jimmy dennis, his lovely wife corby, and i

jimmy, chris rabb, giovanni reid, me

note from isaiah <3

eddie

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2018/01/post_images/feed/0reentry, remaining, and remembering by eduardo ramirezhttp://thejuryroom.org/2017/11/reentry-remaining-and-remembering-by-eduardo-ramirez/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/11/reentry-remaining-and-remembering-by-eduardo-ramirez/#respondMon, 20 Nov 2017 20:28:19 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=217Criminal justice reform is getting a lot of attention these days—and deservedly, much of this attention is focused on reentry. To those who are truly interested in attending to the needs and concerns of “returning citizens,” please keep in mind that adjusting to life outside of prison requires more than housing, employment, and the usual services associated with reintegration. After a lifetime spent in prison, the embrace of “freedom” seen on the surface also comes with a latent sense of bittersweetness: while some go free, others will remain behind and unfortunately die in prison. This is a heavy weight that some returning citizens will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

On November 20th, 2017, Luis Suave David Gonzalez will be returning to a world much different than the one he left behind 32 years ago. Back then Run DMC was blowing up the airwaves and everyone had their shelltop Adidas with the Broadway laces; President Reagan was in charge and the USSR was still a thing. While being away, Luis missed all the changes that occurred: the gentrification of his old North Philly neighborhood, the births of so many nieces and nephews, and the passing of his mother.

Giovanni M. Reid was 17 years old in 1991 when he was accused, and later convicted, of a robbery/homicide he had nothing to do with. He had never had so much as a speeding ticket in his life before finding himself enduring a hopeless nightmare. On November 20th, Giovanni will be celebrating his first birthday as a free man in 26 years.

From the outside looking in one could easily say how thankful these two gentlemen should be for another chance at freedom; that’s that and that’s the end of it. Tell them to find a job, get a house, rebuild your life and put the past behind you. For some it’s not that simple. The past is made up of experience you’ve had, places you’ve been, and people you’ve known. When your experiences largely consist of headcounts and strip searches; the places you’ve been have all been crammed into a 6×12 concrete and steel box; when the people you’ve known have all been felons, demolished and discarded from the inside out, it’s pretty hard to forget that. Sure, returning citizens can discount their experience as being part of a cultural trauma, and they can even put the tiny cells behind them. But they never forget the people they meet along the way. They never forget the promises—kept and broken; they never forget the dreams and hopes for a different future. If you listen closely you can hear them tell the stories of a cellmate or walkie they knew a lifetime ago. It’s a mix of guilt and appreciation.

When they talk about reentry what’s really being said is “forget.” When people who’ve never been through the proving ground of prison (where you learn what kind of person you really are), or those whose self-centered values have always been apparent, suggest only the most superficial of quick fixes—either because they don’t know any better or they don’t care—what they fail to consider is that there are real people behind the numbers. And each person carries the baggage of a lifetime of people they’ve met and loved as their own blood. Good luck, Suave. Happy Birthday, G. To all the men and women struggling to make it and keep their word to us at the same time, we’re good. Your success IS our success and we couldn’t be happier for you all. We truly do wish you P-E-A-C-E.

by eduardo ramirez

DN6284

P.o. box 244 graterford, pa 19426-0246

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2017/11/reentry-remaining-and-remembering-by-eduardo-ramirez/feed/0Change Now – by edward ramirezhttp://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/change-now-by-edward-ramirez/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/change-now-by-edward-ramirez/#respondMon, 23 Oct 2017 15:31:04 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=215To the citizens of Philadelphia: November 7th, 2017 is a critically important day. After Seth Williams’ very public fall from grace, the city will be electing its next District Attorney. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently described the job of the district attorney as being obligated to prosecute crime. While not untrue, it is a narrow view and speaks more to the adversarial nature of our criminal justice system. Traditionalists would have the public believe that the top job of a prosecutor is to secure convictions against the guilty. Non-traditionalists propose that a prosecutor’s job is to secure justice. a very important distinction. This is why November 7th is so important. We have seen the results of decades of malicious prosecutions that have made vigorous attempts to use incarceration as a means of resolving the problem of crime in the city. At its worst it has resulted in the continued prosecution of innocent lives. Some of these innocent souls, like Shaurn Thomas, Anthony Wright, and Donte Rollins will be present and accounted for when it comes time to cast their vote. Unfortunately there still so many whose voices will not be heard at the ballot box.

The two candidates vying for the office both have their pros and cons. Both candidates have solid plans to implement justice reforms ranging from declining prosecution of small amounts of marijuana to limited petitions for capital punishment. But one candidate is familiar with the office and its protocols while the other is coming in as an outsider—and this makes all the difference.

The District Attorney’s Office of Philadelphia has embedded in its DNA a systemic way of thinking that is as infectious as it is detrimental to the administration of justice. For too long prosecutors have violated the due process rights of the accused by infringing on their right to remain silent, soliciting perjured testimony, and withholding evidence that could prove an defendant’s innocence…..

The indoctrination of its officers to win at all costs is subtle and pervasive. And in this they have violated their own ethics, the victims they purport to represent, and the community.

If a change is possible it won’t happen from within. Applying the same methods or employing the same actors and hoping to get a different result is an exercise in futility. If a change is going to happen then the office’s genetic code needs to be reprogrammed by an outsider who doesn’t care about the legends of Arlen Spector, Ed Rendell, Ron Castille or Lynne Abraham as much as he cares about their record of abusive tactics that persist to this day. We all want to live in a safe society and we all want offenders to be held accountable—but not at the expense of constitutional rights that are meant to protect the innocent and to guarantee us all life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Change is on the horizon. The question is will The Office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia change back to the bully days of the 70s, 80s, and 90s or will we see a new progressive administration that treats addiction as a mental illness more fit for a hospital rather than a prison; will we see the elimination of cash bail so that working citizens can report back to work and defend themselves properly rather than be held hostage in a county jail cell, losing their jobs and families and feeling compelled to take a guilty plea—even if they’re innocent; will we see a Conviction Review Unit that welcomes qualified opinions from outside the office in the pursuit of justice for the wrongfully convicted rather than the façade of integrity that closes its doors to outsiders so that no one knows exactly what is going on? The word is spreading, and on November 7th the vote will reveal what people have heard and what they believe. Join them. Join Shaurn, Anthony, and Donte and be present and accounted for.

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/change-now-by-edward-ramirez/feed/0International Wrongful Conviction Day by Edward Ramirezhttp://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/international-wrongful-conviction-day-by-edward-ramirez/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/international-wrongful-conviction-day-by-edward-ramirez/#respondSun, 01 Oct 2017 14:13:58 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=211On October 2nd, 2017, supporters of the innocence movement will observe International Wrongful Conviction Day. Every year the number of innocent people in prison is increasing and International Wrongful Conviction Day is an opportunity to learn more about why wrongful convictions occur, what corrective measures are being taken and how to prevent future injustices. This day also gives laypeople and professionals the chance to combine forces to spread the word regarding this continuing American tragedy.

A few reasons why a day like this is important would be the fact that at this very moment there are human beings sitting in prison cells convicted of crimes they did not commit or have any involvement with—and for every innocent person in prison there is a family that suffers alongside them. If this isn’t cringe worthy enough, then consider that for every wrongful conviction there is a victim that has been misled and denied the truth.

And for every innocent person in prison, for every suffering family, for every misled victim there is a real agent of injustice that deserves to be held accountable.

These aren’t baseless speculations, these are facts. Since 1989 there have been more than two thousand exonerations—40% of them occurring in the last six years, with 166 in 2016 alone. We know there are innocent people in prison and we know that faulty eyewitness accounts are a leading cause for wrongful convictions, but what’s unacceptable is that last year 41% of wrongful convictions were due to official misconduct. We know that officials can do something about this because since 2003 there have been 225 exonerations based on an official admission from the prosecutor’s office. (Note: in 2014, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office celebrated its progressive move to activate a conviction review unit, but has since only made two public admissions of a wrongful conviction.)

On October 2nd we can do more than just acknowledge the injustices that occur in our justice system far too often. For starters we can seek out the exonerated, their families, victims that have been lied to and we can offer them a platform to tell their stories. We can contact our local law schools and innocence projects and tell them that we no longer want to be passive participants in our civic responsibilities and that what we want is to help free every innocent person from prison. We can crowd every courtroom so that every judge who might be indifferent, every prosecutor who might skirt due process, every defense attorney who might be derelict in his or her duties can know that we are watching and we will report back to the world what it is that we are observing. We can flood the in-boxes of our mayors, our district attorneys, our state attorney generals, every local and state politician and tell them that we want real change right now.

By Edward Ramirez, 9/29/2017

If you would like to contact Eddie:

Edward Ramirez – DN6284

SCI Graterford

P.O. Box 244

Graterford, PA 19426-0246

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/international-wrongful-conviction-day-by-edward-ramirez/feed/0Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts by Edward Ramirezhttp://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/hurricane-maria-relief-efforts-by-edward-ramirez/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/hurricane-maria-relief-efforts-by-edward-ramirez/#respondSun, 01 Oct 2017 13:59:47 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=206I’m sure that many Americans are aware of the devastating aftermath caused by Hurricane Maria on the island of Puerto Rico. In addition to the widespread destruction to the land and personal property, the category 4 hurricane has left upwards of three million people without electricity, suitable drinking water, and other basic necessities. The recovery work far exceeds the number of available hands, the supplies are already almost completely depleted, and the cost to rebuild ‘LA Isla del Encanto’ will continue to add up for many years to come.

Readers of thejuryroom.org are familiar with recovery efforts sponsored by local groups such as Congresso de Latinos Unidos in Philadelphia and national organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. There is another group of individuals whose efforts will probably go largely unacknowledged—if acknowledged at all. Recently, residents of SCI-Graterford, in partnership with State Representative for the 197th district of Philadelphia, Mr. Emilio Vasquez, proposed to raise funds for humanitarian aid. The residents of this institution are looking to make official what they have already done: make personal donations to various groups to support those in need. One individual, Dean Troutman—a long-term resident, coordinated with his congregation of Jehovah Witnesses and through their church in San Juan they are providing relief to their immediate community. Puerto Rico is our immediate community; just as New Orleans was our home to rebuild after Katrina, as New Jersey was our shore to clean up after Sandy, and as Houston was our to neighbor whom we opened our doors to—so to is Puerto Rico and its citizens our land and our people to love and provide support in this greatest time need.

Anyone interested in joining the effort can contact Aissia Richardson, chief-of-staff to State Rep. Vasquez, by emailing repvasquez@pahouse.net or call 215-457-5281. Any donation of food, supplies, and/or funds will go a long way to helping our brothers and sisters now when they need it most. Your assistance is the most important.

By Edward Ramirez, 9/28/2017

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2017/10/hurricane-maria-relief-efforts-by-edward-ramirez/feed/0Innocence of Manufactured Guilt! By Isaiah Givens (PA Inmate #AY8749)http://thejuryroom.org/2017/08/innocence-of-manufactured-guilt-by-isaiah-givens-pa-inmate-ay8749/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/08/innocence-of-manufactured-guilt-by-isaiah-givens-pa-inmate-ay8749/#respondWed, 09 Aug 2017 19:14:27 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=202Isaiah Givens was convicted of a 1982 double murder in Philadelphia, and has been actively fighting for his innocence since. Isaiah is writing a guest blog series for the jury room, describing his experience with being wrongfully accused, arrested, tried, convicted, and incarcerated for murders that he did not commit.

Part One

Saturday, September 4, 1982, I awoke early in the morning out of the clear blue. Not tired nor restless. From the bedroom window of my Aunt Neicy’s house on Collum Street in the Germantown section of the city of Philadelphia, where I had been staying since Saturday, August 28, 1982, in an attempt to get away from the madness that occurred in my own neighborhood on August 26, 1982 inside a courtyard of the Richard Allen Homes Projects which is alleged to have occurred at or about 6:30 P.M., in which a couple of close childhood friends were being accused of the random shooting murders of two (2) individuals [One being a 7-year old boy] and the wounding of six (6) others, I took notice that the skies were overcast, which was of no meaning at the time, then the telephone rang!

I reached over to answer the phone as quick as possible so as to not awaken my four (4) young female cousins who were perhaps still asleep, put the receiver to my ear and said: “Hello?” The voice on the other end of the phone replied: “How we doing this morning?” I recognized the voice I had heard since birth as being my Mother’s [Joyce B. Givens]. I informed her that I was ok. She informed me that the police had been to our residence. I thought nothing of it since the police had paid a few visits to my residence inquiring about my co-defendants, never inquired about me, and had been doing so since the late evening of the incident. Then she went on and further stated very calmly that: “They have a warrant for your arrest for the project shooting!” My mind went completely blank. Now that I think of it, I guess my mind went into a momentary shock. I asked my Mother did SWAT come into the house all crazy? I asked such question due to concern for my 7-month old sister. My Mother response was: “No, just two (2) homicide detectives came. They were real nice. They didn’t search the house for you. They went upstairs & opened one (1) out of three (3) bedroom doors and looked in and closed the door. They came back down the stairs and complimented us on how neat and clean the house was and told me to tell you that they had a warrant for your arrest for the project shooting. That they were very kind and respectful.” I blurted out: “Ok, I’m going to Cleveland!” And I hung up the phone and just laid there in a trance. My mind seemed to be frozen in time with no thought about anything. A blank slate. I didn’t know anyone in Cleveland and had never even been to Cleveland. Don’t even know why I said Cleveland out of all the places in the world. Even today I cannot even tell you why I said such.

As I laid there, I heard the bedroom door open and my Aunt say: “Baby you alright?” I responded: “Yes ma’am.” Just then, the phone rang again and I immediately answered it. It was my Mother, and before I could say hello, she stated: “Boy what are you running for? Everyone knows that you weren’t there! Look, this is what I’m going to do; I’m going to call “Seal” [Attorney Salvatore J. Cucinotta] and I want you to go down there and turn yourself in with him so that this matter can get straightened out. Sit tight and I’m going to call him and I’ll call you right back!” I hung-up the phone and my Aunt asked me what was going on? I explained everything to her and she starts to cry. I hug her and told her that everything will be ok. My Mother eventually calls back with “Sal” on the line. He informed me that if this is what I want to do, that he already contacted homicide and informed them that we would be at the Police Administration Building after 1:00p.m. and he would come pick me up by taxi cab before then. I told him ok. I took a shower and got dressed.

My mind was so dumbfounded and confused how did this happen to me?

Written by Isaiah Givens for the jury room on August 7, 2017

To contact Isaiah with messages of support:

Isaiah Givens

#AY8749

SCI Houtzdale

P.O. Box 1000

209 Institution Dr.

Houtzdale, PA 16698-1000

]]>http://thejuryroom.org/2017/08/innocence-of-manufactured-guilt-by-isaiah-givens-pa-inmate-ay8749/feed/0Surviving 30 Years of Isolation – Part 1 by Terry Williams (PA Death Row Inmate AY3626)http://thejuryroom.org/2017/08/surviving-30-years-of-isolation-part-1-by-terry-williams-pa-death-row-inmate-ay3626/
http://thejuryroom.org/2017/08/surviving-30-years-of-isolation-part-1-by-terry-williams-pa-death-row-inmate-ay3626/#respondMon, 07 Aug 2017 17:24:01 +0000http://thejuryroom.org/?p=199I live alone while I survive being in isolation/solitary confinement for 30 years and being incarcerated for a total of 32 ½ years. When I have visitors I must have them in isolation as well. I’m forced to wear an orange jumpsuit and I sit behind a thick glass window on one side while my visitors is on the other. Before I get placed in this room my wrists were handcuffed together in front of me, the cuffs chained to a leather restraint belt around my waist. Unlike the general population prisoners who get contact visits there is no hugging or touching for me unless you count the air hug I give to myself to symbolize hugging my visitor. I was sent to isolation 30 years ago in 1986, after being giving the death penalty. I have not touched a person in society in 30 years and I have not talked to anyone in society without a screen or glass or telephone in that same time span. At one time I was the youngest person in Pennsylvania to be sentenced to death and now I’m one of the oldest and longest residing residents.To live in isolation for 3 decades has been cruel and torturous and violates human rights. No one deserves to live in solitary each day of their lives. I see first hand that the men here suffer all kinds of irreparable psychological and physical harm. I spend 22-24 hours a day locked in a 7 foot by 12 foot cell. and there is a nightlight that stays on for 24 hours each day. Mon., Wed., Fri., are the normal shower days. Five days a week I get to exercise for 2 hours in a cage configured like and looks like a dog kennel but is the size of the average house bathroom. In my cell I have books, television, typewriter, toiletries and cosmetic necessities. This is the first of many installments that will detail my days on death row. Look for more segments to come.

Isaiah “Button” Givens was convicted of a 1982 double murder in the Richard Allen Projects of Philadelphia, but has wholeheartedly fought for his innocence and freedom since his arrest. Isaiah has become like an older brother to me, and his dedication to proving his innocence is inspiring. In his 35 years wrongfully incarcerated, he has done so much research, written an incredible amount of letters, and collected so much information on his case. His determination is incredible!

Drug-related shooting spree kills two, wounds six others

He just needs people to help him come home. He needs legal representation, a support network, and for his story to be shared. Isaiah’s story is all too familiar – a poor, young, minority kid from the projects who was victimized by the system.

I did a Q&A with Isaiah to shed some light on who he is as a person. He is not just a body behind a state imposed ID number. Isaiah is intelligent, well-read, persistent…and understandably frustrated with his situation. Isaiah Givens is an incredible human being with so much to offer our world, he just needs a chance at freedom.

In 1989 While at Huntingdon Penitentiary [Before State Prisons Turned Into SCI’s] I acquired my G.E.D. without taking any warm-up classes prior to taking test; 1993 I acquired an ASSOCIATES DEGREE in ECONOMICS from Lehigh Community College with a 3.43 GPA.

IMPRISONMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Certified Award Winning Illiteracy Tutor [Have Taught 100’s+ To Read & Write]; G.E.D. Math Teacher Aide; Certified Peer Facilitator & Certified Peer Facilitator Instructor in ‘Cognitive Restructuring’ & This Correctional Facility Lead Inmate Facilitator & Instructor [Have Facilitated 100+ Classes On ‘Behavior Modification’ (but was recently denied to become nationally certified to become a ‘Certified Peer Specialist’ in ‘Mental Health First-Aid’ because I lack a mental health history! – GO FIGURE?)] I wrote the proposal which the Department Of Corrections APPROVED which allowed this inmate population to have it first Inmate Organization captioned: “Journey For Change.” I’ve advocated for prisoner’s rights & have filed lawsuits in behalf of all prisoner’s, regardless of race or gender. I’ve also represented inmates at misconduct hearings for decades.

What was your favorite subject in school?

I didn’t have a favorite subject in school until I was enrolled at Abraham Lincoln High School. That subject was ‘Business Administration.’ That subject was very exciting to me & it introduced me to a hidden world of intrigue which was never considered by me prior to going to that school.

Where did you grow up?

Basically, I grew up in Richard Allen Homes Projects, primarily at ‘1101 “C” Parrish Place, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My Grandmother “Naomi Cain” moved into said area back in 1944 when it was a brand new development of low-income housing for minorities, along with her two-young sons. In 1945 my Mother “Joyce B. Cain” was born & brought from the hospital & raised at said residence & then my youngest uncle was born & raised within the same residence. The residence consisted of a second floor, two-bedroom residence. My Grandmother had her own room. My three-uncles shared the other room. My sister [Icealinda] slept with my Grandmother & my Mother slept downstairs on the couch. I slept with my youngest uncle. My Grandmother fixed us a hot breakfast each & every morning, except Saturday Morning. On Saturday Mornings, we were permitted to eat ‘Cheerios’ without any sugar. I hated it!?

My Mother, Sister & I moved to different parts of the city for no longer than a year & always ended back at Grandmom’s. My Grandmother & youngest uncle were devout Jehovah Witnesses & regardless if we didn’t want to, my sister & I had to go to ‘The Kingdom Hall’ for worship without fault or failure as long as we stayed there. My Mother, Sister & I eventually moved to 1034 Cambridge Mall, a two-storied, 3-bedroom, single home, inside of the Cambridge Mall Public Low-Income Housing Project, adjacent to the Richard Allen Homes Project. At the time of my arrest, I was living at 1101 ‘C’ Parrish Place with then girlfriend ‘Sabrina Hall’ & her youngest daughter. I was on the lease under the name of ‘Isaiah Hall.’ My Grandmother moved into a wheelchair accessible unit on 13th. & Fairmount Avenue. 1034 Cambridge Mall became my mailing address so to speak because I was still on that residence least under my true name until everyone were made to relocate due to revitalization of the area.

Anything other than prison food. I’m fond of the buffalo wings sold in the institution visiting room vending machine whenever I do get a chance to go on a visit, I am hopeful that whoever came to visit me, purchased a debit type card in the visiting lobby before coming up the ramp to visit me, so that I can acquire am few packs of this wings & a Cherry Coke Soda!?

What were your hopes, dreams, and goals as a child?

With the exception of wanting to make the 1984 Olympic Boxing Team as a Junior Middleweight Boxer & I wanted to move far-far away from the projects & live a positive productive life. Ironically, three-weeks prior to the incident, while walking through the courtyard of City Hall, Philadelphia Police Reps had a stand with applications soliciting anyone to fill out an application to become a Philadelphia Police Officer. I endorsed an application & gave it back to the rep. About a month after my arrest, I called my Mother & she informed me that I had received mail from The Philadelphia Police Department. I requested of her to open the letter & read me its contents. As she began to read the contents she started laughing. She informed me that the letter was to inform me that I had a job interview at the Philadelphia Police Academy a week from the date of the letter to become a Philadelphia Police Officer. I asked my Mother why she was laughing? She said that it was ironic that they would want to hire me as a police officer after falsely accusing me of two-counts of murder. However, I would have gladly went to that interview if I had been given the chance. I could have transferred into some other department doing desk duty or something after being hired.

Tell us about your family?

The most honest depiction I could give of my family would be …. As Dysfunctional As They Come.

What do you like to do to stay positive during your fight for freedom?

I put my headphones on & listen to a lot of jazz music that I have on my tablet. As well as, Robert Glasper; Amel Larrieux; Niia; Mali Music; Jill Scott; Erykah Badu; Solange; Eric Benet; Ledisi; Avery Sunshine; The Floacist; Lalah Hathaway; Maxwell, just to name a few.

I read a lot of recent appellate court law decisions, assist others with filing Post Conviction Relief Petitions with Memorandum of Laws attached so that the attorney appointed to their case will not be able to file a Commonwealth vs. Finley letter against them claiming that they have no issues of merit, so that they [Court-Appointed Attorneys] do not have to amend their petitions.

I am a published writer of columns/editorials in two neighborhood grass rooted newspapers in Philly on social issues under my personal caption: “TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN & MINORITY INNER-CITY COMMUNITIES … BY: Isaiah Button Givens”. I read a lot of different books at one time. I just finished “Bedroom Bully” By: Trista Russell; Casanova & I’m halfway through “For Whom The Bells Toll” By: Ernest Hemingway. When I’m mentally frustrated or stressed, I reread for the thousand & one time “The 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People” By: Steven Covey. I also have been reading this college book titled: “Abnormal Psychology In A Changing World – 5th Edition.”

Basically I do anything to stay mentally sane. I believe that all we own in this world is our minds. If one loses their mind, then they have surrendered the greatest treasure bestowed upon them & therefore surrender the will to exist within the realm of existence.

Describe a typical day in the life of Isaiah?

How can I respond to this question, I’m asking myself. I guess you would say that my typical day is staying in a steadfast pursuit of positive growth & development, despite of dwelling within the darkside of human experience by force. Finding a positive within every negative situation confronted with. I do not subscribe to any jailhouse gang or religion affiliation whatsoever [Watching Individuals Place Their Hand Upon The Bible & Intentionally Lie, Depreciated My Religious Belief. How Could A Higher Being Allow For Said Individuals To Get Away Unpunished?] I’m highly respectful of everyone & lack judgement towards others because of their convictions. Every fraction of a second of each minute of my life, whether my eyes are wide open or closed, is dedicated to figuring out how to bring my innocence, my plight, my trials & tribulations before individuals of compassion & empathy to assist me with obtaining my only set goal …. THE TRUTH OF MY INNOCENCE TO OBTAIN WHAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM ME …. MY FREEDOM!!

If you were exonerated tomorrow, what would you do first?

I honestly have not thought that far ahead. For such is merely a figment of my imagination which I have yet to bring forth into a reality of thought, even though every thought of my being is concentrated directly to obtain that fulfillment at some point while I’m still capable of breathing & walking, yet, until then, it’s an unfulfilled prophecy for me.

What would you like people to know about Isaiah “Button” Givens?

That I’m as innocent of this crime as a newborn infant’s initial entry into this world. My innocence is the topic of discussion on a daily basis throughout Philadelphia. My website is of my own research to prove my innocence & to show unequivocally facts that my trial prosecutor [The Late Roger King] committed acts of moral turpitude, which did not just adversely affect me, but harmed the integrity of the judicial system and, no one seems appalled nor outrage over this fact? Why would it make sense for a trial prosecutor to manufacture evidence, suppress evidence, suborn perjured sworn testimony from prosecution witness against a defendant, if that defendant was guilty? To obtain a conviction & not justice to enhance career expectations at the cost of destitute defendants! My trial prosecutor was denied five-times to become a judge. Wonder why? My moral compass is bankrupt, therefore i’m unashamed to BEG & PLEAD FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO CHAMPION MY CAUSE AS AN UNEQUIVOCAL INNOCENT MAN!!

If you were all alone in this world & your brother, son, uncle, father or even yourself faced with such injustice, would you not beg & plead for the compassion & empathy of any individual(s) for their assistance & support pursuant to your innocence? I have never seen any of my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or any of my 50’s every in society & I do not want to die in prison as an innocent man. However, I will not accept nor subject myself to a “No Contest Negotiated Plea” nor a “Negotiated Guilty Plea” for my immediate release from prison. For I am only “Guilty Of Being Innocent” & it’s either all or nothing with me. PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO HELP ME ….PLEASE!!!!

Lastly, what do you need from your supporters in order to help advance your fight for innocence?

Although the Pennsylvania Innocence Project @ Temple University Beasley Law School is investigating my innocence, after I’ve written to practically every Innocence Project in the United States and, as far away as Australia, Canada, Germany & Hawaii, which has been to no avail, I believe that my undisputed story [Website] should be aggressively promoted & the world needs to see the injustice that has occurred to me & that innocence is not just a fact which can be proven by DNA ONLY, but by research of certified documentation & published public records can also prove one’s innocence. So, I guess to share my story with the world & bring forth to the court of public opinion that INJUSTICE IS REAL!!

That Philadelphia had a trial prosecutor named ‘Roger King’ who practiced debauchery & deceit in concert with the Philadelphia Homicide Division to seek convictions regardless if one is innocent or not. Ex-ADA Roger King & The Philadelphia Homicide Unit have a history of bringing about false convictions. One only needs to look at the original “Lex Street Murder Defenders Case” in which Ex-ADA Roger King had a prosecution witness hypnotize to be able to identify one of the defendants as being one of the murderer’s, then had the defendant’s to pick a death qualified jury, when he [Roger King] was aware within 30-days after the defendant’s arrest four-other defendant’s committed the crime because the FBI informed him & Lynn Abraham [Head D.A. at the time] that they had a participant in the murders, the gun used in the murders & who the true defendants were & the original defendants who they knew were innocent, were held for 18 months & still forced to pick a death qualified jury due to Ex-D.A. Roger King & Head D.A. Lynn Abraham moral turpitude? ANY & ALL ASSISTANCE THAT CAN BE THOUGHT OF IS HEREBY BEING REQUESTED! THANK YOU VERY-VERY MUCH!

A record 166 total exonerations occurred across America in 2016, and 2,006 total exonerations are on record in our country.

These statistics highlight a crisis within the criminal justice system that devalues human lives and undermines the very definition of justice.

Sixty state level exonerations have occurred in Pennsylvania, about one-third of which have occurred in Philadelphia county, which has been crippled by scandals involving sworn and elected officers of justice. Of Pennsylvania’s exonerees, nineteen were enduring life sentences, nine were given life without parole, and four were sentenced to be executed by the state for crimes they did not commit. The error rate for death penalty convictions is estimated at 4.1% and is estimated to be much higher for non-death penalty cases. This indicates at least seven innocent individuals are currently living on Pennsylvania’s death row, and presumably more than 2,100 innocent incarcerated persons statewide. These statistics highlight a crisis within the criminal justice system that devalues human lives and undermines the very definition of justice. read more…